Miniature doll eye-set



1954 P. TOMMARCHI ETAL 2,667,013

MINIATURE DOLL EYE-SET Filed Nov. 16, 1950 INVENTOR. I d PaulTommarchl War/fer 0. Byer Patented Jan. 26, 1 954 Paul Tommarchi and Walter G.

N. Y., assignors to Plastic (led Long Island City, N.

York

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App-season- November 16, esesm'am. 196.902" 2. Claims. (01.1 ames) This invention relates to; eyesets for what, are known in the trade as miniature dolls; S,1ich dolls are equipped with eyes which areipivdtally mounted to swing about a'transverse, h'o'riontal axis so as te simulate opening and closing of the eyes as the doll is raised from or lowered into a prone position.

In larger dolls it has long been the practice to afiix imitation lashes to the eyes in order to enhance the effect of realism, such lashes consisting of ribbon-like assemblies of hairs or bristles inserted in slots formed in the dolls eyes. But in miniature dolls, due to their small size, as well as labor and material cost limitations, this has not been feasible; and the eyes of such dolls have not been equipped with lashes.

It has been found that the somewhat unnatural appearance resulting from the absence of lashes on miniature doll eyes can be corrected and the attractiveness of the eyes greatly enhanced by means of an appropriately located, arcuate projecting flange, which, in the sizes involved in miniature doll eyes, and even though in solid, strip form, creates a surprisingly eiTective illusion of lashes.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an eye-set embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same eye-set;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of eye-set;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form of lash-simulating flange element;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental, front elevational view of an eye-set such as is shown in Fig. 1 but modified by having the upper side of the eye lash corrugated.

The eye-set illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is preferably molded as a single piece and comprises a pair of eye cup members I, 2 of hemispherical form united by a bridge piece 3 and having projecting pivot elements 4, 5 about the axis of which the eyes swing when suitably mounted in a doll head. The depending weight portions 6, i serve to move the eyes as the doll is raised from and lowered to its prone position. The projections 8, 9, I 0, II serve as stops to limit the eye movement within the head.

When molded of transparent plastic, as is preferred, the illusion of depth is created by applying appropriate color to the back of the eye cups to represent the pupil and iris of the eye. The white, marked I2, I3 is applied to the front of the cups, as also are the colored lid areas I4, I5.

2 mar ee th d. the -w 1 s fl n s t 1-1 of: r u.a e a an -pr f y. sl htly tapered outwardly. These flanges, appropriately colored for contrast, are what create the illusion of eye lashes. They can be molded as integral parts of the plastic eye-set at virtually no additional cost and yet greatly enhance the appearance of the finished doll. As will be understood, the eye lash flanges project through the eye socket openings of the standard miniature doll head.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, the eye-set is molded and colored as above described but with slots I8, I9 in lieu of the eye lash flanges. In this instance the eye lashes are simulated by separately molded and appropriately colored plastic strips, such as ZI (Fig. 4) which are inserted and glued or otherwise suitably secured in the slots l8, I9. If desired, the illusion can be further enhanced by corrugating or grooving at least the upper surface of the strips (or the flanges I6, I! of Figs. 1 and 2) as indicated at 22 in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5 the eye lash is in the form of the strip ZI integrally formed with the eye cup member 2 of the eye-set, the strip being corrugated on its upper side as shown at 22.

In the light of the foregoing description, the following is claimed 1. An eye set for a miniature doll comprising a pair of integral eye cup members integrally united by a bridge piece, each member being of hemispherical form and being made of transparent plastic, the back of each member being colored to represent the pupil and the iris of an eye, the front of each member having a white portion to simulate the white of the eye and a colored lid area above the iris, said pupil, iris, white portion and lid area being integrally formed with each said member, each said member having along the lower margin of the lid area and adjacent the upper edge of the iris a projecting, one piece, arcuate plastic flange to simulate an eye lash, said plastic flange being of solid strip form and tapered from the back to the front thereof, at least the upper surface of the flange being corrugated, said flange being integrally molded with said member, and the color of said flange being in contrast to the color of said eye, thereby helping the flange to create the illusion of an eye lash.

2. An eye set for a miniature doll comprising a pair of integral eye cup members integrally united by a bridge piece, each member being of hemispherical form and being made of transparent plastic, the back of each member being colored to represent the pupil and the iris of an 5-, eye, the front of each member having a white portion to simulate the white of the eye and a colored lid area above the iris, said pupil, iris, white portion and lid area being integrally formed with each said member, each said member having along the lower margin of the lid area and adjacent the upper edge of the iris a projecting, one piece, arcuate plastic flange to simulate an eye lash, said plastic flange being of solid strip form and tapered from the back to the front thereof, said flange being integrally molded with said member, and the color of said flange being in contrast to the color of said eye, thereby helping the flange to create the illusion of an eye lash.

3. An eye set for a miniature doll comprising a pair of integral eye cup members integrally united by a bridge piece, each member being of hemispherical form and being made of transparent plastic, the back of each member being colored to represent the pupil and the iris of an eye, the front of each member having a white portion to simulate the white of the eye and a colored lid area above the iris, said pupil, iris,

aeeioi PAUL TOMMARCHI. WALTER C. BYER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,582,364 Wisch Apr. 27, 1926 1,945,150 Lorenz et al Jan. 30, 1934 1,976,370 Popovich Oct. 9, 1934 2,546,682 Wilhelm Mar. 27, 1951 2,618,898 Wilhelm Nov. 25, 1952 

